Fort Lewis Soldier Charged in Death of Teen Found at Barracks

Army officials have charged a soldier for the death of a 16-year-old girl on an Army base south of Tacoma, Q13 FOX reported.

Private Timothy Bennitt was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Leah King on February 15. He is also charged with distributing drugs to other soldiers.

King was found dead and another teenage girl was found unconscious in a barracks at Fort Lewis.

Officials have confirmed King died from a toxic combination of Alprazolam, an anti-depressant marketed as Xanax, and Oxymorphone, a pain killer marketed as Opana. According to investigators, some of these drugs were crushed and inhaled in powder form, denying any time-release protection that a pill form might provide.

If Bennitt is convicted, the maximum punishment is reduction in rank to private, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, confinement for 82 years, and a dishonorable discharge.

Security has been improved since the incident, and the Army says all minors must be signed in at the Fort Lewis Visitor's Center.